AdYack

When you think about it, Life is a collage of memories, relationships, emotions, conversations, and all the little moments cut from the experiences that make up your life.

Nobody understands that better than today's guest on the podcast. Stephen Kroninger grew up outside of Allentown in the sleepy burb of Orefield, Pennsylvania, and spent his formative years studying commercial art at Lehigh County Vo-Tech. While there, he met a charismatic teacher who was instrumental in helping him understand that an art career was something young Stephen may want to consider. After college, he headed straight for New York City and has never looked back.

Stephen is a provocative collage maker and illustrator whose work has appeared in major U.S. and international publications, and he is also the author/illustrator of three award-winning children's books. He's worked with 80's rap group Public Enemy and comedian Chris Rock and his art has graced the cover of TIME magazine on four separate occasions.

Kroninger's illustrations have appeared in nearly every major newspaper and magazine in the United States and in many publications worldwide. Kroninger's work was the subject of an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the only time the museum devoted a one-person show to an illustrator. His artwork can be found in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, The Library of Congress, and the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., among others.

We yak it up on many topics that included his unique creative process, how he allows for 'happy accidents' in his work, and the only advice his father ever gave him that turned out to be life-changing.

Here is my AdYack with the incredible Stephen Kroninger.

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.kroninger

http://www.instagram.com/stephenkroninger

https://www.stephenkroninger.net/

I love meeting people who are super passionate about their craft and the work they do to earn a living. Today, on the podcast, I talk to two individuals who exceed that criteria. Mr. Matt Artinger and Patrick Newill. Matt owns and operates Artinger Guitars based in Emmaus, and he was gracious enough to sit down with me on a Saturday morning and talk about the art of making guitars.

Partick works right alongside Matt in his shop, putting his stamp on a line of guitars. Matt brought Patrick in because he saw so much of himself in Patrick and wanted to provide an opportunity to pass the torch to the next generation.

Matt freely admitted that Partick inspires him, and the two often collaborate on project brainstorming sessions because Matt understands the effectiveness of what can happen when an idea can leap from brain to brain.

Matt has built over 1,000 custom guitars, and he’s not stopping. We yak it up on the importance of trial and error in doing such highly custom work, how ideas can get better when you are open to collaboration, and how they try to build magic into every guitar they make.

They are part Zen masters, part scientists, part visionaries, part electrical engineers, and Alchemists. Blending complex components and materials into something that brings joy to millions in the form of music and songs.

Matt and Partick are the type of people who love to push the boundaries to go where others may resist. That’s the mark of craftsmanship. As Matt stated in a Popular Mechanics article that featured him, “When it comes to guitars, the proof is in the playing. "As pretty as a guitar looks, it has to perform five times better, "It's not a piece of furniture; it's a functional piece of art.”

It was clear from our conversation that these guys love their work. They have found a way to channel their talents and shape them into a career as two of the most sought-after builders of custom guitars of their respective generations.

Here is my ad yack with Matt Artinger and Patrick Newill

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-newill-6a7328111/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-artinger-104657/

www.facebook.com/mattartinger

www.facebook.com/patricknewill

www.instagram.com/newill_guitars

AdYack Season 4 Episode 3 Katie P. Desiderio and Michael G. Frino

One of the topics I love to discuss on AdYack is leadership. Today on the podcast, I will explore this topic in depth with best-selling authors Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino.

Frino oversees Human Capital Development for a Fortune 500 Company, a Leadership Author, a Performance Researcher, and an Adjunct Professor. Desiderio is an Assistant Vice President of corporate-educational Partnerships, a Tenured Professor of Management at Moravian University, a Partner in Learning, and now a Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author.

The duo have co-authored an excellent new book about leadership and transformational growth that looks to BEES for its inspiration. The book is called The BeeKeeper: Pollinating your organization for transformative growth. Katie and Michael sketched out the original concept behind their first book after publishing in academic journals for over a decade since earning their doctorate degrees in Organizational Learning and Leadership.

Little did they know then, but 18 days after their pizza box brainstorm, UN World Bee Day was established to protect and preserve our great pollinators who provide growth for all of us.

The book uses the story of an inspiring beekeeper and how we all can learn from how bees structure and operate their hives. We talk about organizational structure, how we can all take better care of each other at work, and how big things will happen when we all work towards a common goal. I‘ve read many business books over the years, and this one is at the top of my recommended list.

Fun fact: I was introduced to Katie for the first time in May 2017 when she gave a commencement address during my daughter’s graduation from Moravian University. It was while listening to her meaningful words about enjoying the present moment and feeling grateful that I could shift my mood. Even though I was upset about having terrible seats and being soaked from the rain that fell earlier in the day, her impactful words helped me change my mindset. She allowed me to witness and celebrate my daughter’s accomplishments with the proper attitude. To me, that’s why Katie is such a great leader.

We talk about that commencement address, the power of positive change, growth mindsets, creativity, and company culture, and how we can all learn what it means to place ourselves at the core of learning and growth for the people in your organization. Prepare to BEE inspired, entertained, and enlightened.

Here is my AdYack with Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-p-desiderio-mba-phd

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miichaelgfrino

https://www.linkedin.com/school/moravian-university/

https://www.facebook.com/katiep.desiderio

https://www.facebook.com/mfrino

https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/831363/moravian-university/

Welcome to Season 4 of AdYack.

Today on the podcast, I get to interview Mr. Lee Abrams. To say that Lee Abrams is a radio legend would be an understatement. His career has spanned over five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Lee is credited with developing the album rock radio format, first introduced in the 70s to help stations move away from playing hit singles to more album-oriented rock. While he remains passionate about his past, he's focused on reimagining the future. He consulted over 1,000 radio stations, 12 major print publications, and numerous tv stations and cable networks throughout the country.He's advised bands like Iron Maiden, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, The Moody Blues, and Bob Seger, among others. Newsweek has listed him as one of their "Top 100 Cultural Elites,” industry publication Radio Ink cited him as one of the 75 most essential radio figures ever. Abrams, served as an internal consultant for ABC Radio and helped develop nationwide radio formats such as Z-Rock andRadio Disney. Lee also co-founded XM satellite radio. I was fortunate enough to work with Lee when he was named the Chief Innovation Officer at Tribune Publishing, which owned The Morning Call Newspaper, and led the effort to inspire change and content innovation at Tribune's print and broadcast divisions.Lee allows the people he works with to expand their comfort zones and is not afraid to support calculated risks when required. Like many visionary creative leaders, he can see past the challenges and find the opportunities that often lie hidden in the obstacles. Lee possesses that rare leadership trait that helps inspire those around him with his words and actions. He's a deep thinker and understands the importance of a growth mindset. He is humble in his approach and with an unwavering desire to help companies re-invent themselves by assisting them to say goodbye to mediocrity.Lee and I yack it up on many topics, including what inspired him to devote his life to music and radio, his love of flying his plane, and his desire never to stop working, growing, and evolving. He's the perfect guest to kick off Season 4. So here is my ad yack with Lee Abrams.

SEASON FINALE! Kate Hughes - AdYack Podcast Season 3, EPISODE 7Today on the podcast, I get to interview someone who has forged a career out of always putting herself in the best light. Someone who knows the power of the pivot and whose energy is off the charts. You could light a city with the wattage that emanates from her presence.I’m talking of course about Kate Hughes. Kate is one of those people that you only need to meet once to realize that she’s impossible to forget.Kate and I yak it up on a variety of topics that include, the double edge sword of being an over thinker, or how gratitude can be a strong catalyst for change, once you fully embrace it.This interview took place at the end of a very exhausting week for both of us. Kate was undeterred. Even though it would have been easy to reschedule, Kate felt we should forge ahead. Boy, am I glad we did.Kate’s infectious attitude provided enough energy for both of us as I got to experience some of that energy during our AdYack.Our topics ranged the power of personal re-invention to how we could all benefit from a little empathy from time to time.I learned that’s she’s proud of her ability to put an efficient team together and is always ready to engage her creative side when solving life’s challenges.She’s tenacious, passionate about her family and friends and has an intense determination when it comes to getting things done.I was grateful for the time I got to spend talking to Kate. She’s on a mission and she’s not stopping until she gets where she wants to go. And she’ll do it with style, wit and a giant smile on her face.Here is my AdYack with Kate Hughes.

Instagram: @ih8kateFacebook: @Kate HughesLinkedIn: Kate Hughes

Hashtags:

#creativity #passion #marketing #advertising #art #pivot #determined

#energy #smart #design #leadership #teamwork #aaf #tenacious

For several years now, I have been experiencing the phenomenon commonly known as serendipity with greater frequency. It's considered an unexpected fortunate discovery. But, it turns out, it happens all the time; you have to be open to experiencing it. The latest serendipitous event for me happened when I opened an email from Tina Zaremba. Her initial message was followed by a meeting over zoom, leading to an invitation to be on AdYack.Tina is a professional voice-over actor based in New York City, where she brings fifteen-plus years of experience and has lent her voice to hundreds of commercials, promos, and corporate videos that include clients such as BNY Mellon, Tide Plus Bleach, Airwick, Pantene, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the United Way, Dunkin' Donuts, and March Of Dimes.In addition to working as an in-demand voice-over talent, Tina loves coaching and mentoring artists by helping them create a blueprint for a career in entertainment/new media by helping them become a 'solo-prenuer.' Tina studied theater at Western Michigan at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, where she received the Sidney Kingsley scholarship.One of the engaging topics we discuss is her work at the New York Film Academy in NYC, teaching artists how to 'flip the script' when it comes to knowing their worth and how to take charge of their artistic careers. We also discuss why coloring inside the lines is not always the best way to live a creative life.When Tina isn't providing her talent to various voice-over work, you can find her venturing around Harlem with her husband, son, and French Bulldog Jojo. This was an intensely personal conversation, and I hope that as you listen to it, you discover something unexpected. Here is my AdYack with Tina Zaremba.

Charles Stonewall Webster’s dictionary describes an artist as someone with the talent to create art (such as a painting, a sculpture, music, or photography) while using their conscious skill and creative imagination. So with that definition, I would say my next guest is what I would refer to as an artist’s artist. Charles Stonewall is a highly gifted and talented Lehigh valley based artist and photographer who has spent his life looking for the light and capturing it in his stunning images.

I met Charles for the first time at The Allentown Art Museum, where his work was being featured, and I felt inspired to have him as a guest here on Ad Yack after viewing one his photos that I found deeply moving. We talk about that photo during the interview. During our initial conversation at the museum, I was also captivated by his willingness to share the stories behind many of his mesmerizing images. Charles Stonewall’s journey began in Easton, PA, where his grandmother gifted him with his first camera, a Praktica, and encouraged him to use it as a source for good. Stonewall’s work has an evocative and ethereal quality to it.

His approach when creating is to use his extensive experience to see his subjects in a new light and then work diligently to create both timeless and moving work. Charles and I also discovered rather serendipitously that we both studied with Myron Barnstone. A brilliant artist and art teacher who taught a classical approach to drawing and design here in the Lehigh Valley for over 40 years. Charles explains how great art lives in our ability to be open to new experiences and to infuse those experiences into our everyday lives and work. A chance encounter at an art museum led to the interview you are about to hear. May you find it inspiring, informative, and entertaining. Here is my AdYack with Charles Stonewall.

Facebook: @charlesstonewall

Instagram: @charlesstonewallphotographer https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/charles-stonewall/

#photographer #creativity #light #photos #passion #camera #artist #lens #fineartphotographer #blackandwhite #magichour #art

Today on the podcast, I have someone who I have wanted to talk to for quite some time, and thankfully our schedules finally aligned.

OutFront Studio’s National Creative Director, Eddy Herty. Eddy is highly respected in the advertising industry and is a frequent guest speaker at industry-leading events, including Outdoor Advertising Association Of America, The Infinity Film Festival, HOW Design Live, and The NY Ad Club. He’s also been a Judge for the ADDY Awards, the OAAA OBIE awards, The One Show, and The Clios.

Herty has dedicated his career to helping businesses leverage the selling power of Out of Home, dynamic creative execution, and establishing a client-first environment at Outfront. As a result, Eddy and his team are changing the perception of Out-of-Home one billboard at a time that cuts through mediocrity using the world’s oldest advertising medium. We yak it up on many topics that include best practices when presenting big ideas, hand-painted vinyl vs. digital printing. How the pandemic saw outdoor’s visibility increase, to the process, he uses to uncover a brand’s truth. He also shares how he inspires the 50-person design team at OutFront. Eddy also tells the story of how he evolved from not understanding the power of outdoor when he was a young designer to today leading Outfront studios to new creative heights.

Herty and his team are doing impressive work that’s helping clients re-invent themselves in an ever-changing media landscape through the power of great design and messaging. Herty believes outdoor is the one medium that screams to thousands and whispers to one. Here is my AdYack, with Eddy Herty.

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